Reconnoitering apparatus



J. B. STRAUSS. RECONNOITERING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILEDUG. 14, 1916.1,349,635, Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

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J. B. STRAUSS.

RECONNOITERING APPARATUS.- APPLICATION FILED AUG.14,11916.

1,849,635, Y Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

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J. B. STRAUSS.

RECONNOITERING APPARATUS. APPLICATION `FILED AUG. 14, 1916.

1,349,635. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. sTRAUss, OP CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RECONNOITERING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, JosnrH B. STiiAUss, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State" of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement, in ReconnoiteringApparatus, of which the following is a specification. i i

This invention relates to portable searchlights and has for its Objectto provide a new and improved device of thisdescription. The inventionis illustrated in the'accompanying drawings, wherein- `Figure 1 is aside elevation showing one form of device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the device shown in Fig. 1, with the lampremoved; i

Fig. 3 is a view of the platform and a portion of the movable arm isseen looking in the direction of the arrow on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view `in `part section, showing the Operatingmechanism;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. r

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In the construction shown, I provide two pairs of wheels 1 and 2, eachpair having a connecting axle, the wheels 1 `acting as the front wheels,and the wheels 2 as the rear wheels. These wheels are adjustablyconnected together so `that they may be moved relatively to vary thedistance between them. In the construction shown, the two sets or pairsof wheels are connected by the frame pieces 3 and 4, which arepreferably fixed to the front axle and have a sliding connection withthe rear `axle 5. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the rear axle is providedwith the guides 3" and 4, in which the members 3 and 4 slide. Saidmembers may be fixed in any `desired relation by means of the pins 6,which pass through holes in the guides and in the members 3 and 4 andwhich project on opposite sides of the axle, as shown. Movably mountedon the front wheels is a movable arm 7. In the construction shown, thismovable arm isrotatably mounted upon a'sleeve 8 on the front axle 9.This arm carries at its Outer end the desired mechanism.` Ashereinshown, it is provided with a platform or carrying device 10 locatedbetween the branches 11 of the arm 7 and pivoted thereto. This platformor carrying device is provided with Specification of Letters Patent.``Patented Aug Application med Augustl 14, 1916; Serial `No. 114,932.

means for keeping it in a substantially horif zontal position during thevarious positions of thearm. The carrying device is connected by pins 12with the arms 11. Connected with these pins are the pieces 13.` At theotherend of the arm` is a similar piece 14, these pieces being connectedtogether by the cables or flexible partsland 16., The carrying devicemay be providedwith any desired mechanism, such as a searchlight `17.The arm7is also connected with therear set of wheels.` As illustrated inFigs. 1 and 3, there are two connecting pieceslS and 19, oneat each`side of the arm 7, the connecting pieces being pivotall'y connected tosaid arm at 2O and 21. connecting pieces 18 "and 19 are rotatablyconnected with the rear axle 5. It will thus be seen that bydisconnecting the members 3 and 4 from the rear axle andlmoving the Theother ends of the Abe lifted or lowered and may be held in any desiredposition by inserting the pin 6 in the proper openings in the members 3and 4; The two sets of wheels may be moved relatively in any desiredmanner. In the drawings, `for purposes of` illustration, I have shownone` method of accomplishing this. In this construction, I provide ashaft 22 (sce Fig. 4) suitably mounted `in position. This shaft may beoperated by means of a motor or by the handle 23 and is operativelyconnected by pinion 24 and gear 25 with the shaft 26. The shaft 2G isoperatively connected with the drums 27 and 28 in any desired manner, asby means of the sprocket chains 29 and 30 which engage sprocket wheels31 on the shaft 26 and sprocket wheels 32 connected with the drums. The

drums 27 and `2S are provided with iexible' power transmitting devices33 and 34 which maybe cables wound upon the drums and which extend backand `connect with the rear axle (see Fig. It will thus be seen that byrotating these drums in one direction the wheels willbe moved relativelytoward each other to lift the arm, while by slacking up on these cablesthe weight of the arm will move the wheels relatively away' from eachother and the arm -will be thereby lowered. lVhen the arm 7 is moved themembers 13 and 14 and 15 and 16 keep the platform or carrying devicesubstantially horizontal during allthe various positions of the arm. Inthe construction shown in Fig. 5, the members 3 and 4 are` S14 arealsojconnected with-these'brackets YThe ends of the connecting pieces 18and V19 are preferably rotatably Vmounted upon a sleeve and connectedwith the ends of theseconneetmg pieces 1s Vthe support 37 which may bemade up in any desired manner, as by angle irons, as shown, and to whichis-connected a spring 38 having between its members a coil. spring 39.The end otV themovable Varm rests upon this spring and support, as shownin Figs. l and 2. I Vprefer to provide a wood bumper piece 40 (see Fig.2) `connected with the plat- `form l() and which engages the spring asshown.' The front wheels l may be connected with the front axle 9 bymeans of the pivoted spindles 4l carrying the wheels and pivoted toV theaxle. The device may be guided in any desired manner, as by means ofthemembers 42, connected with the spindles 4l and a connecting member 43connected with .the tongue 44, the tongue being pivoted at'45 toa-.bracket 46 on the axle. The member 43 is Yprovided with aV slot 47yin which works a pin 48y on the tongue 44.

The device may be provided with a seat 49 connected with the arm 7. Bymeans of this construction I am enabled to provide a light, substantial,portable device wherein thefmovable arm carrying the searchlight acts asthe frame or chassis of the device, thus doing away with the heavy,cumbersome parts and at the same time securing a construction'which iseasily and quickly operated and which is strong and durable.

I have described in detail a particular construction, but it is otcourse evident that the parts may be varied in many particulars withoutdeparting from the spirit of myinvention, and I therefore do not limitmyself to the particular construction shown Ythese wheels andtransferring it to the irst or'frontrset of wheels. As the arm moves uptheweight on the second pairof wheels is decreased and the weight on thefront set ot' wheels increased until when the arm is in a verticalposition all the weight is4 on the front set of wheels.

I claim:

l. A portable reconnoitering device comprising two Vpairs of wheels, amovable arm movably connected with one pair of wheels, a controllingconnection between said arm and the other pair of wheels, and means 'tormoving said pairs of wheels toward and from each other while the saidarm and controlling connection are connected therewith so as to raiseand lower said arm.

2. A portable reconnoitering device coinprising two pairs ot wheels,axles vtor said wheels, a movable arm movably connected with one axle, aconnection between said arm and the other axle. and means tor moving'the axles with relation to cach ohcr while the said arm and connectionare connected therewith to litt and lower the arm.

A reconnoitering device comprising a pivoted arm, a support on which itis pivoted, a connection pivotall'v connected with said arm intermediateits ends, a second support to which said connection is pivotallyconnected. and means tor moving said supports relatively while said armand connection-are connected therewith to raise and lower said arm.

4. A reconnoitering device comprising two pairs ot wheels, an adjustableconnection between said pairs ot wheels, means for moving` one set otwheels along said adjustable connection to var v the angular relationbetween said arm and connection so as to litt or lower said arm, andmeans l'or holding said wheels in any ot the various adjusted positionsthereof.

5. A reconnoitering device comprising two pairs of wheels, a crossconnection bctween the wheels of' each pair, an arm pivotally mountedupon the cross connection between one pair of' wheels, a shock-absorbingsupport connected with the cross connection between the other pair otwheels upon which the arm rests when in its inoperative position.

6. reconnoitering device comprising two pairs ot wheels. a crossconnection bctween the wheels of ach pair, an arm pivotally mounted uponthe cross connection between o ne pair ot wheels. a shock-absorbingsupport connected with the cross connection between the other pair ol`wheels upon which the arm rests when in its inoperative position, aconnection pivotally connected with said arm between its ends and withthe cross connection between the wheels carrying said shock :bsorbingsupport, and an operating mechanism connecting the two cross connectionsand adapted when moved to move the two pairs ot wheels relatively toraise and lower said arm, said shock absorbing support engagingr saidarm when lowered so as to gradually stop the movement of saidconnection.

7. A reconnoitering apparatus comprising two pair ot wheels connectedtogether, means for moving said pairs ot wheels relatively to separatethem varyingl distances` a cross connection between each pair ol'wheels, an arm pivotally mounted on the cross connection between onep'air ot wheels. a carrying device pivotally connected to the other endof said arm, said cz'lrrving` device when the arm is in its loweredposition supiorted by the cross connection between the second pair o'Wheels so that a part of the weight of' said arm is carried by saidsecond pair of Wheels, and means for moving said arm While it isconnected With said cross connection to remove a portion of the Weightthereof from the second set of Wheels and transfer it to the other setof Wheels.

8. A reoonnoitering apparatus comprising a pair of Wheels, an armpivotally mounted upon said pair of Wheels, a second pair of Wheels, aseparable connection between the two pair of Wheels, a portion of saidarm when the arm is in its clown position being supported upon saidsecond pair of Wheels, and means for moving said arm 15 about itspivotal connection to transfer a portion of the Weight o1 said arm fromsaid second pair of Wheels to the first mentioned pair of Wheels.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 20 in the presence of twoWitnesses this 15th clay of July, 1916.

JOSEPH B. STRAUSS.

Witnesses:

MARION L. INGRAHAM, ELLA THIEME.

